Uncoupling lever



y 3 c. M. 'GOLDINGER uucoumm unvaa Original Filed'June 15, 1921 PatentedMay 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,626,929 PATENT OFFICE,

CARL M. GOLDINGER, OF TARENTUM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER I.

' MURPHY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UNCOUIPLING LEVER.

Application filed June 15, 1921, Serial No. 477,767. Renewed October 1,1926.

This invention relates to uncoupling devices for car couplers generallybut more particularly to such devices for locomotives in which use it ishighly desirable that the device may be operable from both sides of thelocomotive.

The object of this invention is to provide an uncoupling device whichmay be operated from either side of the car and of such constructionthat the operating handle will not project forward from the end of thecar when the lock pin of the coupler is in look set position, meansbeing provided to permit the handle to return to its normalsubstantially vertical position against the end of the car.

In some types of uncoupling devices the operating handle remains in itsraised position when the lock pin is in look set position, whichin thecase of use on a locomotive is very dangerous inasmuch as operators instepping from the foot board usually found on the front end oflocomotives, are liable to have their clothing caught in suchoutstanding handle whereb they may be thrown on the track and injured.Another objection to this type of device, formerly in use, is thatfrequently there are several persons on the foot board, in which case anoperator is likely to be thrown off the foot board by the oppositehandle of the device, when the device is operated from the other side ofthe car. These conditions make it desirable to provide an uncouplingdevice which may be operated from either side of the car withoutdisturbing the normal vertical position of the handle on the other sideof the car, and further, to provide means whereby the handle operatedmay return to its normal substantially vertical position, withoutdisturbing the lock set position of the lock pin.

This invention consists of two operating levers separately mounted on acar upon opposite sides of the coupler, for independent operation andeach provided with a depending handle at its outer end normally restingagainst the end structure of the car, and a crank at the inner end ofeach lever extending forwardly from the car and substantially at rightangles to the handles, a rigid U bar link flexibly connected to the lockpin of the coupler at its lower end and vertically slidably connected atits upper end with said cranks whereby all service Figure 3 is a sideelevation of Figure 1,

the end structure being partly in section.

The reference numeralil designates the end structure offa car. It willbe understood that the term car includes locomotives. Suitably securedto the end structure are side brackets 2, 3 and a double center bracket4, said brackets being provided with filler blocks 5 and cotter pins '6,which look secure the blocks and operating levers 7,

8 in said brackets; the levers being revolubly mounted.

The levers 7 8 are provided with operating handles 9, 10 at their outerends which, when in normal position depend vertically against the endstructure. The inner ends of the levers are provided with cranks 11, 12projecting forwardly from the end structure and substantially at rightangles to the handles 9, 10, and terminate at their free ends 1 in eyes12, 13 positioned in a horizontal plane. 7

The cranks 11 and 12 are flexibly connected with the pin 14 of thecoupler 15by a rigidlink which comprises a single bar bent to asubstantially U shape thereby forming vertical arms 16,.and a bottomconnecting member 17, the upper end portionofeacharm being rebentforwardly to form a downwardly open hook 18,19. H o

The cranks, connecting link, andcoupling pin are so operativelyconnected that'they cannot be disconnected without first removloo ingthe levers 7 and 8 from their brackets.

In assembling the U shaped connecting link is passed through the eye ofthe lock pin 14 and then placed in a vertical position,

then the hooks 18, 19 are passed through the 105 eyes 12, 13 of thecranks and the levers are then revolubly secured in the brackets whenthe parts assume their normal position shown in Figure 3; the bottommember 17 being flexibly and loosely mounted in the 11 eye of thecoupler pin, while the arms 16 of the connecting link are looselymounted in the eyes 12, 13 of the cranks 11, 12 and free to movevertically relatively to said eyes, whereby the link is free to movewith the coupler in all service movements without imposing strain on theoperating levers and their cranks.

It will be readily seen from the drawings that the coupler pin may beoperated and moved to lock set position by either lever 7, 8, withoutdisturbing the normal position of the other lever, and that the leverwhich has been operated may return to its normal position withoutdisturbing the lock set position of the coupler pin.

The parts are so proportioned that there is no liability of theirfailing to properly function.

What is claimed is:

1. In an uncoupling device for car couplers the combination with a carcoupler having an automatic lock pin provided with an eye, of asubstantially U shaped rigid lock pin lifting link loosely journalled atits bottom in the eye of the pin, and forwardly extending open bendportions at the top of each leg of the link, and two independentlymounted levers, a flexible operative connection between each of saidlevers and each leg of the link, whereby the link and pin may be raisedby either lever independently and without disturbing the normal positionof the other lever, and whereby the lever operated may return to normalposition without disturbing the lock set position of the lock pin.

2. In an uncoupling device for car couplers having an automatic lock pinprovided with an eye, the combination of a pair of operating leversmounted 011 a car for independent operation, a crank extending forwardlyfrom the inner end of each of the levers and a handle at the outer endof'each lever substantially at right angles to the crank, an eye at theouter end of each crank, a substantially U shaped rigid pin lifting linkthe legs of which terminate at their upper ends in an open return benddisposed forwardly of the leg, the width of bend being greater than theinside diameter of the eyes on said cranks, in which said legs of thelink are loosely positioned and vertically movable, the U shaped linkbeing loosely journalled bodily in the eye of the lock pin.

3. In an uncoupling device for carcouplers, the combination with a carcoupler having an automatic lock pin provided with an eye, of asubstantially U shaped rigid lock pin lifting link loosely journalled atits bottom in the eye of the pin, a stop at the upper end of each leg ofsaid link, and two levers mounted for independent action, a flexibleoperative connection between each of said levers and each leg of thesaid link, whereby the link and pin may be raised by either lever andwithout disturbing the normal position of the other lever, and wherebythe operated lever may return to normal position without disturbing thelock set position of the lock pin.

4. In a release rigging for car couplers having a look pin, a rigid pinlifting link substantially U shaped, each leg of which terminates at itsupper end in a normally open hook disposed at a right angle to thebottom of the link, the bottom member of the link being constructed tobe journalle'd in the eye of the coupler lock pin, said legs beingdesigned for direct attachment to a coupler pin operating rod and at thesame time be free to move vertically relatively to said rod.

5. In a release rigging, the combination with the lock pin of a carcoupler, of a pair of independently mounted operating rods, a lever onthe inner end of each rod extend ing substantially over the coupler andterminating in a vertically disposed eye, a rigid substantially U shapedlink each leg of which terminates at its upper end in an open hook, eachleg of said link being vertically slidably mounted in the vertical eyeof its respective lever, and the link being flexibly connected at itslower end to the said pin.

6. In a release rigging for car couplers having a lock pin with an eye,a rigid substantially Ushaped pin lifting link, each leg of which hasrestricted slidable engagement through an eye of a coupler pin operatingred, the bottom of said link being journaled in the eye of the lock pin.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

CARL M. GOLDINGER.

wi e;

